The World Bank’s support for a Kenya electricity programme is criticised for failing to comply with its Indigenous Peoples Policy, with implications for the Bank's future lending and the safeguards review.
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Sub-Saharan Africa
Social services
News
IFC pushed private education investment model criticised by UN
Two UN committees and a special rapporteur have questioned development aid funding going to private education, including through IFC supported Bridge International Academies.
Rights
News
Renewed warnings over World Bank safeguards “dilution”
Further concerns have been raised over dilutions of the World Bank’s proposed new safeguards framework, as controversy arose over a Bank waiver of the indigenous peoples policy for a Tanzania project.
Finance
Analysis
World Bank rolls out the carpet for “troubled megaprojects” and PPPs
The World Bank and other multilateral development banks continue to push for public-private partnerships for infrastructure projects, despite concerns of debt risks and lack of transparency.
Knowledge
Analysis
The World Bank's updated international poverty line, a case of poor measurement?
World Bank updates the International Poverty Line and claims a continued decrease in numbers of poor, but long-standing questions about the methodology used and whether the instrument is fit for purpose persist.
Social services
Analysis
PPPs as a model for development: An analysis of the African context
Public-private partnerships are pushed in Africa, but the risks and costs must be fully understood and minimised, including the impact on the poor.
Finance
Analysis
China goes global with development banks
This briefing examines the trajectory of China's evolving leadership in international development finance, including the impact of it's massive increase in development finance for developing countries.
Rights
News
World Bank safeguards review: “human rights-free zone”
A UN special rapporteur, CSOs and donor countries have critiqued the lack of human rights in the World Bank's draft new environmental and social framework, as the consultation process has continued to be fraught with difficulty.
Other news
Rights
News
World Bank’s proposed standards “gravely weaken” investment safeguards
As the World Bank closed the third and final round of public consultations on its new draft social and environmental standards, further concerns have been raised about problematic and weak language.
Finance
News
Taxes rise in Ghana as IMF loan approved
The IMF has approved the third disbursement of a loan agreement to Ghana, however, concerns were raised regarding associated tax rises.
IFI governance
Background
Recommended resources on the World Bank and IMF 2015
The best books and papers on the World Bank and IMF from 2015.
IFI governance
News
World Bank Uganda road project cancelled
The World Bank has suspended a loan to Uganda in response to multiple failures.
Rights
News
CAO opens new Marikana case
CAO finds complaints from Marikana community eligible for further assessment.
Social services
News
World Bank’s “wakeup call” on universal health
New World Bank report shows lack of access to basic health services has pushed six per cent of the global population into poverty, as the IFC continues to support private health providers.
IFI governance
Background
Ebola debt relief – Implications and next steps
Notes from a meeting on Ebola during the World Bank spring meetings.
Gender
Background
Gender and development: What is happening now?
Notes from a meeting on gender and development during the World Bank spring meetings.
